What to Know About the Dystopian K-Drama Goodbye Earth
A deadly asteroid hurtling toward South Korea is expected to decimate the planet in 200 days. Amid the panic and chaos, a community struggles to keep the peace as they brace for impact. Directed by Kim Jin-min (Extracurricular, My Name) and written by Jeong Seong-joo (Secret Affair, Heard It Through the Grapevine), the Korean series Goodbye Earth is an adaptation of the book by Kōtarō Isaka (Bullet Train, aka Maria Beetle). The show stars Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo Ah-in, and Jeon Seong-woo.
When will Goodbye Earth be released?
Stream the 12-episode series now.
Where can I find the trailer for Goodbye Earth?
Check it out at the top of this page.
Who’s in the cast of Goodbye Earth?
- Ahn Eun-jin (My Dearest, The Good Bad Mother) as Jin Se-kyung, a middle school teacher
- Yoo Ah-in (Burning) as Ha Yun-sang, a scientist and Se-kyung’s fiancé
- Jeon Seong-woo (Designated Survivor: 60 Days) as Woo Sung-jae, a priest
- Kim Yoon-hye (Vincenzo) as Kang In-a, a captain in the Korean Army Special Mission Unit
- Kim Kang-hoon (Mouse) as Park Jin-seo, one of Se-kyung’s students
- Kim Do-hye (Queen of Tears) as Jeong Ha-yul, a student
- Kim Bo-min (Carter) as Yu So-min, a student
- Eun Ye-jun (The Uncanny Encounter) as Kim Min-ho, a student
What happens in Goodbye Earth?
The once-peaceful city of Woongcheon, South Korea, has descended into lawlessness after news that an asteroid will destroy the world in 200 days. With a little over six months left, middle school teacher Se-kyung (Ahn) protects her students from new threats born out of end-times societal collapse; Sung-jae (Jeon), a young priest, stumbles upon dark secrets within his church and attempts to safeguard his congregation; and In-a (Kim Yoon-hye), a former battalion commander, fights against human traffickers targeting Se-kyung’s students. As the clock winds down, everyone is forced to confront impossible choices and take stock of what really matters.
“This is a very unique dystopian genre series, which sets characters heading toward dystopia,” director Kim Jin-min told The Korea Herald. “It’s not about their struggles for survival, but something that throws a question, ‘What would you do [when you have 200 days to live]?’ The main idea is that for all people, from 4-year-olds to 80-year-olds, life is equally blessed and precious.”
Is Goodbye Earth based on a book?
Yes, Goodbye Earth is based on Japanese writer Kōtarō Isaka’s novel The Fool at the End of the World (Shūmatsu no Fūru), a collection of stories about people making sense of the end of the world a few years before an asteroid destroys it.
Several of Isaka’s books have been adapted into films, including Bullet Train (based on the novel Maria Beetle), Golden Slumber (aka Remote Control), Grasshopper (aka Three Assassins), and the upcoming Netflix thriller Seesaw Monster, starring and co-produced by Anne Hathaway and Salma Hayek.
“This series pays homage to the indomitable spirit of those who persevere through their last days on Earth,” screenwriter Jeong, who adapted the novel, told Netflix.
Where does Goodbye Earth take place?
It takes place in the fictional city of Woongcheon, South Korea, just outside of Seoul.
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